JBR advised XPartners on the acquisition of RYSE.
XPartners Group, a leading Northern European engineering and design consulting group, aims to roll out its successful platform model beyond the Nordic region. The acquisition of RYSE aligns seamlessly with this goal and lays the foundation for a scalable platform in the Netherlands. The combination of the two companies offers clear synergies: RYSE brings a strong local market position and multidisciplinary expertise in real estate consulting and project management, while XPartners provides its Nordic economies of scale, international knowledge exchange, and proven buy-and-build approach to further expand its Dutch operations.
Facts and figures
XPartners
XPartners Group is a European engineering and design consulting group with approximately 2,500 professionals, operating in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Germany. The group, founded in 2021 and backed by private equity investor Axcel since 2023, generates annual revenue of approximately EUR 443m (SEK 5 billion) on a pro forma basis and consists of approximately 90 entrepreneurial specialist firms that collaborate under a single shared platform. Ownership is primarily held by the employees themselves, with Axcel as a financial partner. XPartners advises clients in the infrastructure, buildings, energy, and environmental sectors. In line with this vision, XPartners actively acquires companies through a clear buy-and-build strategy, in which the entrepreneurial spirit within the individual firms is preserved and strengthened by the group’s economies of scale, knowledge sharing, and investment capacity.
RYSE
RYSE is a Dutch multidisciplinary consulting firm specializing in real estate consulting and project management within the built environment. Founded in 2013 with roots dating back to 1949, the company employs approximately 80 professionals across offices in Utrecht and Groningen. RYSE supports clients throughout the entire lifecycle of real estate and area development projects—from strategy and planning to implementation and management. The combination of XPartners and RYSE provides the opportunity to further develop and expand the Dutch operations into a leading platform group in real estate and the built environment.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Press Release
RYSE will become part of the XPartners Group and will serve as the foundation for its expansion in the Netherlands.
Over the years, RYSE has positioned itself as a leading advisory partner in the Dutch real estate market, with a focus on strategy and consulting, development and planning, and execution and management. The company has an experienced team of approximately 80 professionals who guide clients through projects in areas such as social real estate, commercial real estate, healthcare, and education. RYSE serves both public institutions and government agencies as well as private real estate owners and commercial clients, and generated revenue of approximately €17 million in 2025.
Vision for the Future
As part of the XPartners Group, RYSE will build on its strong local position and gain access to the scale, international expertise, and specialized knowledge of a group of more than 70 agencies. Driss Aarab, founder and CEO of RYSE, will remain as CEO and will also become Managing Director of XPartners in the Netherlands. In this role, he has the mandate to further expand the Dutch platform by attracting additional specialized agencies in real estate and the built environment. The shared vision and entrepreneurial culture between RYSE and XPartners ensure a smooth collaboration, through which both parties aim to jointly build a leading position in the Dutch market.
About XPartners
XPartners Group is a European engineering and design consulting group, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Sweden. The group operates in more than 30 fields and employs over 2,000 professionals across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. XPartners’ activities are organized around four core areas:
- Infrastructure – Consulting and design for transportation, mobility, and infrastructure projects.
- Buildings – Multidisciplinary services covering the entire real estate lifecycle.
- Energy – Solutions for the energy transition and sustainable energy projects.
- Environment – Environmental consulting, sustainability, and the circular economy.
Since 2023, XPartners has been backed by private equity investor Axcel, which is strengthening the platform for further international growth.
About RYSE
Founded in 2013, with roots dating back to 1949, RYSE has evolved into a specialized consulting firm in real estate and area development. From offices in Utrecht and Groningen, RYSE offers strategic, legal, and financial expertise within the built environment. The company provides consulting, project management, development, and oversight throughout the entire lifecycle of real estate and area development projects.
Contact the deal team personally
Harold Brummelhuis
Associate Partner
Pieter de Jong
Consultant
Gijs Breedveld
Business Analyst